According my source, pro-football-reference.com‘s play index, these 20 quarterbacks have thrown the most go-ahead touchdowns – either to take the initial lead in a game or take the lead away during a game (regardless of the game’s final outcome) – in NFL history.

Favre and Manning are the only two QBs to grab the lead over 150 times, and right now, Manning needs to do it just two more times to take the historical lead. Doubtless, this record will be padded.

Drew Brees and Tom Brady, both a few years younger, might catch up to Favre, but by that time, Manning, assuming he keeps going after this season, might be too far away to reach.

Peyton Manning And Nick Foles Just Became The First (And Only) Quarterbacks To Throw Seven Touchdowns In A Game In The Modern Era

You can check out the comprehensive list of quarterbacks with the most passing touchdowns in a game, ever, here. But what about just looking since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, as we finish up our three-part series of the most (by air) point-productive games for QBs (see the other two links below)?

Seven passing touchdowns in one game is the all-time record, pre- and post-merger. Since the beginning, seven quarterbacks have done it. Since the Merger? Two – and both did it last season (2013). It’s Peyton Manning (again) and, of all people, the surprising Nick Foles.

Another 21 have thrown six touchdowns in a game, but there are repeaters: Manning twice and Tom Brady thrice.

Today, it’s quarterbacks with the most 5-or-more passing touchdown games since the first modern football season when the AFL and NFL united into the NFL (becoming the AFC and NFC Conferences). And it’s Manning again – this time tied with Brees at the top. They have eight apiece.